[Blackadder]

Morning all, i cleaned a patio a couple of days ago, it was all slate (first job on slate),  I used the whirl away with my honda gx390, after the first clean it was disastrous, there were stripes where I'd gone up and down and circles everywhere, no problem I thought, just go over it again, after the fourth time! I let it dry completely, but having looked again this morning, there are still a dozen or so circles that just won't shift!
I didn't use any chemicals, any advice on how to get them off?

[Strata Cleaning]

have you checked if any of the rotor arms been blocked?

[Smurf]

Morning all, i cleaned a patio a couple of days ago, it was all slate (first job on slate),  I used the whirl away with my honda gx390, after the first clean it was disastrous, there were stripes where I'd gone up and down and circles everywhere, no problem I thought, just go over it again, after the fourth time! I let it dry completely, but having looked again this morning, there are still a dozen or so circles that just won't shift!
I didn't use any chemicals, any advice on how to get them off?

The rings have been caused by starting and stopping the fsc in one spot. Stripes can also accrue when the fsc cleans a path deeper than the rest of the area. Basically in a nutshell the fsc has not cleaned the surface properly or the worse case has actually damaged the substrate.

Maybe you could try applying a yehaa! mix to the whole area. Then take the money and ride off into the sunset like hell 
 

[chris scott]

Slate patio….I doubt that.

Do you have images ? By what you describe it's a black limestone patio…which could easily be mistaken for slate.

You need to stop any cleaning till first we identify the substrate.

[Blackadder]

The rings have been caused by starting and stopping the fsc in one spot. Stripes can also accrue when the fsc cleans a path deeper than the rest of the area. Basically in a nutshell the fsc has not cleaned the surface properly or the worse case has actually damaged the substrate.

Maybe you could try applying a yehaa! mix to the whole area. Then take the money and ride off into the sunset like hell 

Yeah, the yeeha approach may not work as its a friends patio, and just let me add, he's a friend that doesn't let things go!! 
I was thinking of putting a bit of detergent, giving them a scrub with a brush, then going over them again? Not sure if that will help though?!

[Blackadder]

[chris scott]

Ooops!

[ray mck]

Crop circles 🙈

[Kev Martin]

Get a Mono Rotary and fit it with a soft to medium brush. 
Soak the patio with clean water until it is saturated.
Clean the patio using PSRP Xtreme HDT&G Cleaner combined with 320 Grit Honing Powder.
Allow to dwell, agitate and extract using a wet vacuum.
Rinse and extract again.
Allow to fully dry (48 Hours).
Seal with Miracle 511 Seal & Enhance

http://www.tilinglogistics.co.uk/PSRP-X-treme-Heavy-Duty-Cleaner-for-Tile-Stone-and-Grout?filter_name=Psrp
http://www.tilinglogistics.co.uk/Honing-Powder-320-Grit?filter_name=Psrp
http://www.tilinglogistics.co.uk/miracle-seal-enhance?filter_name=Miracle%20511

[Smurf]

Kevin, it's just a cheap patio so I don't think the customer would be too keen to go for that somehow as looking at your site cost a fourtune just on products. Then add labour and cost of mono rotory to buy or hire would work out rather dear don't you think?

[Kev Martin]

Kevin, it's just a cheap patio so I don't think the customer would be too keen to go for that somehow as looking at your site cost a fourtune just on products. Then add labour and cost of mono rotory to buy or hire would work out rather dear don't you think?

He asked for advice on how to do it and the method above is how I would do it.  In my opinion if you don't have the basics namely,  a Mono Slow Speed Rotary fitted with a tank and a Wet Vac at the very least you should avoid patios constructed of natural stone.  As for the products based on M2 cost they are under 70p a M2 to clean and 80p M2 to seal.  How much profit do you want?

[Blackadder]

Kevin, it's just a cheap patio so I don't think the customer would be too keen to go for that somehow as looking at your site cost a fourtune just on products. Then add labour and cost of mono rotory to buy or hire would work out rather dear don't you think?

He asked for advice on how to do it and the method above is how I would do it.  In my opinion if you don't have the basics namely,  a Mono Slow Speed Rotary fitted with a tank and a Wet Vac at the very least you should avoid patios constructed of natural stone.  As for the products based on M2 cost they are under 70p a M2 to clean and 80p M2 to seal.  How much profit do you want?

He only paid me £100 and I nearly spent that on fuel 
You pay peanuts, you get monkeys.

[Smurf]

Hi Kevin, going by the pic would say using your methods before cleaning & resealing the joints would need to be repointed first?

I'm also interested to know how you can tell the difference if the pavers in the pic are limestone, reconstituded stone, natural slate or natural slate tile (not slabs) ?

[Charlie Allen]

I'm not sure more cleaning is the way to go as the circles are darker than the surrounding area
Looks to me like the stationary Fsc has taken off some of the surface

[Charlie Allen]

So I think Kevin's answer is the way to go

[Kev Martin]

Hi Kevin, going by the pic would say using your methods before cleaning & resealing the joints would need to be repointed first?

I'm also interested to know how you can tell the difference if the pavers in the pic are limestone, reconstituded stone, natural slate or natural slate tile (not slabs) ?

It doesn't matter the cleaning method is the same!  As for re pointing you still clean first using the method above then seal, then re point then seal again.  However, this is all academical because if he had offered me a £100  I would have told him to get someone else!   Friend or not for a £100 he would be living with the Circles

[Kev Martin]

I'm not sure more cleaning is the way to go as the circles are darker than the surrounding area
Looks to me like the stationary Fsc has taken off some of the surface

The honing powder in the High Alkaline would have got rid of the circles and left the stone with an even aesthetic appearance

[chris scott]

The aforementioned metheod.
http://www.cleaning-service.uk.com/indian-sandstoneblack-limestone-cleaning-and-sealing/

[Aqua Power Solutions]

If your cleaning a surface that your not familiar with , then do a test patch to establish the best method to clean .
 
Good advice from the Chris and Kevin

Ed

[Blackadder]

Thanks for all your advice guys.